Jamal Crawford has been in the league since the turn of the century, cultivating a reputation as one of the most entertaining and high-volume bucket-getters in the entire NBA.
A wiry 6-foot-5 and 185 pounds, Crawford has proven an absolute wizard with the ball in his hands. It’s never mattered who the defender happened to be on any given possession, “J-Crossover” could shake, bake and twist them in every which direction in order to get an open look.
When guarding Crawford, there was also an understanding that he could pull up from literally anywhere on the court at a moment’s notice. They weren’t always the most efficient looks, but it was that fear he brought on the opposition which made them twitchy and susceptible to any and all moves he could pull out of his bag.
During his five years in Los Angeles, Crawford wasn’t the focal point of the Clippers’ offensive system. By that point, he’d become a fully devoted sixth man. With so many weapons already on board, the role made all the sense in the world. It clearly worked out well for both parties.
Crawford would average 15.3 points in only 27.9 minutes per game as a Clipper, providing Los Angeles with a much-needed boost off the bench. He won two NBA Sixth Man of the Year trophies for his play with the Clippers coming off the bench in 2014 and 2016.
Crawford’s streetball-like style of play could be frustrating at times when his shot wasn’t falling, but he was a key member of those Clippers teams in constant pursuit of a title. There were times when he’d fade into the background, but he’d always manage to reintroduce himself with a big-time scoring output just to make sure we all knew what he was capable of.